Harry Payne (1855 – 1895)

Harry Payne was born on 12 May 1855 in Tockington in Gloucestshire, the son of William and Esther, nee Prewett, Payne. He was baptized on 10 June 1855 at St Mary in Olveston, his father William was recorded as a domestic servant.

There is no trace of Harry or his parents in the 1861 census. Harry’s mother Esther died in September 1865 and she was buried on 19 September at St Mary in Olveston.

Harry started working for the Great Western Railway on 12 October 1869. His first posting was based at Bristol station in the passenger department. His initial salary was £20 per annum and this initially increased by £10 per year so by October 1874 he was earning £60 per annum. In February 1877 Harry started working in the parcels office in Stourbridge. Just over a year later in September 1878 he the transferred to the general superintendent’s office at Paddington. His next move was in March 1879 which was a transfer to the passenger department in Birmingham.

In the 1871 census Harry was recorded living as a lodger in King Street in Bedminster with his occupation railway clerk. Ten years later in the 1881 census Harry was a lodger at 350 Kings Road in Birmingham and again recorded as a railway clerk.

In the 1891 census Harry was recorded with his step mother Jane living in Wash Common and his occupation was clerk. There was also an entry of “paralysis” for Harry in the medical question as to whether they were deaf etc.

Harry died on 21 February 1895 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 3 March. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 28 February as below.  

PAYNE – Feb. 21, at Wash Common, Newbury, Harry Payne, aged 39.

Harry’s father William was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 November 1890 and his step mother Jane on 12 April 1901. In addition, his brother Mordaunt Froude Payne was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 21 November 1894.

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